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Nothing decided yet, just chucking some ideas around... would anyone be interested in a carbon fibre Falco fuel tank?

Would be vaguely in the region of £1000 - £3000 depending on numbers and production costs (lot of things to find out first).

They would be as resilient to ethanol as our current tanks are. The lay-up would be top quality.

This doesn't mean it will happen, but if there's enough interest.... maybe.

Hi all,

If it was done in 25litre size l would pay a tidy sum...

I think I would be very interested in this idea

Will fairings and tail pods be available?

£1000 - £3000

Not for me, I couldn't justify that kind of expense for something that has little benefit.

Nooj wrote:They would be as resilient to ethanol as our current tanks are.

So not at all then

- Maybe an alloy tank would make more sense.

CF tank, mmmmmm

I'd have had a hard time turning that down a couple of months ago, but given my current financial situation and the likelihood that both my Falco's are likely to be up for sale I'll have to pass

Chabby wrote:

Nooj wrote:They would be as resilient to ethanol as our current tanks are.

So not at all then

- Maybe an alloy tank would make more sense.

That was my thought as well - except that apparently not even aluminium is entirely safe from the ravages of ethanol, or so I've heard. How about stainless steel?

Since it'll be a pristine tank perhaps a resistant liner would be the way to go, you know that pour it in and slosh it about stuff. Deffo good idea if you could figure a way to slightly oversize the tank to get a few more litres in without making it look wrong

Falcopops wrote:Since it'll be a pristine tank perhaps a resistant liner would be the way to go, you know that pour it in and slosh it about stuff. Deffo good idea if you could figure a way to slightly oversize the tank to get a few more litres in without making it look wrong

Not a bad idea at all... A CF tank will have less wall thickness than a plastic one, so if certain external dimensions were increased by just a little, then a nice increase in capacity could be achieved. And I like the idea of an ethanol-resistant inner skin...

Should add, they'd be completely carbon fibre, rather than just wrapped fibreglass or what ever.

Tank liner isn't that great, it can still crack as the tank expands and contracts from fumes and heat.

I did look into having some ally ones made up, but no one would do it, they all had too much work to cope with as it is. Stainless would weigh a lot and be probably the same cost as carbon. All would be cheaper than a new Aprilia tank though :-s

Nooj wrote: All would be cheaper than a new Aprilia tank though :-s

As would the bike I guess.

Nooj, from what Richard was saying on his FB page he applies an ethanol resistant liner as part of the manufacturing process. Are you saying that this can crack on his CF tanks, or are you referring to aftermarket treatments on the standard plastic tanks?

Aftermarket ones, I mean. Richard would be the guy to ask about it really, he knows way more than me.

Falcopops wrote:CF tank, mmmmmm

I'd have had a hard time turning that down a couple of months ago, but given my current financial situation and the likelihood that both my Falco's are likely to be up for sale I'll have to pass

Sorry for the belated reply Dale, (still out here in Lanzarote).
Things must be bad if you are thinking of selling both Falcos.
Does this mean you're in paradise, but without job?
Hope you get things sorted OK.
Good luck,

how much?